A SCHOOLGIRL from Harrow won her family a trip to Ireland after beating thousands of children to top a London-wide St Patrick's Day competition.

Millie Flashman, 12, took home £2,000 worth of airline tickets as first prize in the individual category of Greater London Authority's 'Tell Us Your Irish Story' contest.

The teenager, who attends Bentley Wood High School for Girls in Stanmore, as well as Christ Church Roxeth in South Harrow, 13th/21st Harrow Scouts Group and Harrow Trampoline Club, collected her certificate in front of thousands of revellers celebrating the occasion in Trafalgar Square in central London yesterday.

Her father Scott said: “Children had to submit a story, or a video or an artwork about Ireland and what it means to them.

“My daughter created a storybook researching Irish myths and legends – about why the Giant's Causeway is the way it is and so on - although our family has no Irish connections whatsoever.

“She certainly spent more than a week working on it in the evenings and early mornings, and she was aware of some Irish stories already and went on the internet to find more.

“She looked at photos and illustrations online and produced her own interpretations.”

Millie's mother Gilian took a phone call breaking the news of the victory last week.

“When we found out she had won, Millie was the calmest in the family,” said Mr Flashman.

“She's been shy about it but all her friends are very pleased and are lining up to see if they can come to Ireland with us!”

The prize-giving was witnessed by the Flashmans, Millie's brother Matthew and her grandparents Bill and Irene Pullen.